Mastercard honours the small businesses that keep New York City running and unveils Priceless presence at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for the 50th running of the TCS New York City Marathon.
As the Official Payment Service provider of New York Road Runners, Mastercard today announced the launch of the “50 Years and Running” campaign to support the TCS New York City Marathon. In partnership with documentary filmmaker and small business champion Nick Heller, otherwise known as @newyorknico, Mastercard is celebrating the businesses that have powered New York City over the past 50 years.
Mastercard continues to leverage the full scope of its business, technology and network of partners and cardholders to help guide and elevate the visibility of small businesses in New York City and around the world. Through Heller’s authentic New York City voice, the “50 Years and Running” campaign features three iconic small businesses near the marathon route that have overcome obstacles in the face of adversity and provide a priceless impact on their communities. They include:
- Grandma’s Place: Dawn Harris-Martin, lovingly referred to as “Grandma Dawn,” opened her iconic children’s toy and bookstore in 1999 to empower children through literacy. Like the Harlem community, Grandma’s Place caters to people of all ethnicities and backgrounds by centering the shop around games and books that benefit, support, educate, and reach children through fun, open-ended learning experiences.
- Davey’s Ice Cream: Originally conceptualized as a creative outlet for the designer and New York native David Yoo, Davey’s Ice Cream opened in Brooklyn with a focus on quality ingredients sourced from local retailers. Yoo continues to build and diversify his flavours to accommodate the multi-national audience that we know in New York City and, for a while, still stays true to the homemade origins of his recipes.
- Bronx Native: Owner Amaurys Grullon provides a cultural hub for creators, artists, and entrepreneurs to showcase Bronx talent with Bronx Natives. Launched in 2016, every piece of merchandise–shirts, hats, or gear–serves as a tool to share issues of poverty and untreated illnesses in the surrounding neighbourhoods, with a commitment to changing people’s perception of the Bronx.
“The issues facing small businesses have changed radically in the 50 years since the TCS New York City Marathon began, and the impacts of the pandemic have only amplified and strengthened these challenges,” said Heller. “Running a business takes the same dedication, hard work and grit it takes to run a marathon. We’re proud to pay tribute to the small business owners–from Brooklyn to the Bronx – who exemplify what makes this city one of the greatest in the world.”
To further support the small businesses featured in the campaign, Mastercard will provide each with a Digital Doors™ toolkit comprising exclusive offerings and resources to help maximize their digital presence, protect their online operations, and succeed in the new normal. These efforts build on Mastercard’s sustained emphasis on financial inclusion, including the company’s pledge to bring 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025.
“The ’50 Years and Running’ Priceless campaign reflects Mastercard’s ongoing commitment to supporting and elevating the small businesses that serve as the backbone of our communities,” said Cheryl Guerin, executive vice president, North America Marketing and Communications at Mastercard. “We’re thrilled to be celebrating and showcasing the extraordinary small businesses that keep New York City running and provide them with the digital tools and resources they deserve to thrive.”
Edited by: Stephen Morton
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